verse and prayers for Monday July 29

church was really good yesterday: visiting pastor who is the head of a bible school so a very nice, clear, 3 point sermon. Here is what I took away:

Romans 13:14
English Standard Version (ESV)
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

3 ways not to take care of the flesh

1.
Don't even think about how we could sin. That's sin itself...opening a door for to the devil
Ex: reliving an offence...creates the desire for vengeance. That's taking care of the flesh. Imagining the sin is sin. Stirring up strife makes it worse. Overflows from the heart ..verse from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Must completely refuse the thought. Say it aloud: Lord get that thought away from me.

2.
Anticipate temptation. prepare ourselves for possible temptation. Take the time in the morning to look at our day with God... Lord what am going to be up against today? Lord help me with this situation in advance. Father I'm deciding in advance not to succumb to what I know is possible. Joseph had already decided in advance not to sleep with Potiphar's wife. Daniel decided in advance not to eat the king's food.
Decide in advance what not to do. Situational awareness. A good soldier is conscious about what is going on around him..the better we will be able to fight the fight.
Don't lend ourselves to temptation. Stay out of there! Need to develop discernment between good and evil.
We are given principles of wisdom and not a list of dos and don't s.

3.
Eliminate temptation we know about. If coveting is a problem, stay Away from stores! Why do we keep putting ourselves in these situations. Close those doors. Stop hanging around with people that cause you to sin.muse principles of wisdom to choose situations that get us in trouble. Don't feed bad memories that is taking care of the flesh. You have a problem with worry stop arching the news and things that create worry. Ate questionable friendships leading you away from God? You aren't necessarily bringing them closer.

******************
Steph...it's hard when stuff is happening in the family I was surprised this morn...I felt like I hadn't prayed at all yesterday...even though I spent all morn in church. It is so easy for us to stray. If you're aware of something amiss, then God is talking to you Steph There are people around me that reach my tolerance level in under 60 seconds...I have two kids who are going to school in September and I'm getting two babies. It seems to me that I have hardly any patience at all left for them. The 5 yr old threw me a major tantrum right before nap time...I think we're constantly being tested to see just how close we are to God. hang in there sister!

Erika: amen...it is a tall, hard order. I was just remembering this morn how patient I thought I was before opening the daycare. My life was a lot easier as a supply teacher. I taught for 14 years...walk in, follow someone else's lesson plan and walk out...no real stress...but no engagement either...no influence. I wanted to be more connected so I opened the daycare. Now I'm connected alright...it seems my patience is being pushed to it's limit today. My ds actually said to me this morn...remember mom what the pastor said yesterday...my my, how I love being corrected by my teen. He was right though. I need to check my attitude this afternoon when my 5 yr old wakes up. I could have handled her tantrum a whole lot better than I did.

Father, thank You for your armour that you have provided...where would we be with out it?thank You for our families...we love them Father, but it is hard. Thank You Father for your peace. We want to be part of this world...engaged...and influencing others for you, but yet not of this world. Lord, thank you for making us stop and think. Thank You for sending your word as arrows to correct us when needed, and hugs to comfort us when needed as well. thank you Lord, we want to stand together and hold each other up in prayer!
amen!

This group of ladies and our postings has encouraged me often. Thanks to God for allowing you ladies in my life.

Seems we all are having some family issues... We all just have to keep taking in to God, asking him to guide us, to work within us for whatever way we are sinning towards/within the situation. and to give us the grace and strength to not focus on the hurts to ourselves, but how we are acting and showing God through how we deal with the situations...
TALL, HARD ORDER....we can't do it on our strength...THROUGH GOD is the only way we can deal with these issues in a way that points to HIM and shows we are giving HIM the Glory in our actions.
This is what has been on my heart. I am trying to make sure I am checking my attitude towards my brother and the situation. Trying to make sure I have truly forgiven him and am not keeping a "score card" of the hurts... I am praying that when and if He is ready to talk for real adn work through our issues that I will be able to go into it cloaked in God's armor and show HIM through my actions and words.
Its so hard not to react emotionally and end up going back to ME and how I feel and my own strength.

GOd, please help all of us to look to you, to seek you, to daily put on your armor and look to give you the glory in EVERYTHING, even our tough family issues. May we show you and your grace and love through HOW we deal with situations. May others see you through our actions. We know we cannot do this on our own. FILL US, Clothe us in your Armour.

During church I wrote down Romans 8. I am really searching today. I don't really feel that God has been with me or leading me lately. I feel like my sin or something is keeping him from me. I was so mad at my FIL yesterday after what he said to me that I was shaking. I feel so done or spent with this situation. I just hate it. I know his intentions are good but he really needs to focus on the three that they are raising and butt out of our business. Seems like every time he comes to talk to me lately I just want to run the other way. It really takes a lot to make me mad but I am only human and I will have my breaking point.

Ephesians 6:10-13
New Living Translation (NLT)
The Whole Armor of God

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Luke 6:37
English Standard Version (ESV)
Judging Others

37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;